The presents are unwrapped, the decorations start to look tired, and the leftovers are almost gone and now we’re left with the question we wrestle with every year: how do we leave Christmas behind once again and move forward? We've celebrated the Good News of Jesus' birth, but is there Good News for us in the New Year?

There is so much good in the world, but when something bad happens to me or someone I love, or whenever I watch or read the news, the world seems pretty scary. It seems like all we ever hear about is bad news, and I don't know about you, but all that bad news can really wear me down!

We all spend a lot of our lives waiting for things. Have you ever found yourself in a season of waiting, wondering when God would finally move in your situation? When we look at Scripture, we see that waiting is often part of God's perfect plan.

No doubt you’ve noticed at one time or another how difficult it is to feel joyful when your heart is filled with worry or discontent. Gratitude doesn't just make us feel better momentarily, it fundamentally transforms our perspective and opens the door to genuine celebration.